Bill would fire heads of ten Okla. state agencies

A bill that would give Governor Mary Fallin the opportunity to appoint the heads of ten state agencies passed a state Senate committee.

If the bill becomes law, the heads of ten different state agencies and boards will have their positions terminated at the beginning of the next year.

The replacements to these positions will be appointed by the Governor.
Senate Bill 829 calls for the termination of the executive directors of state boards concerning podiatry, dentistry, pharmacy, medical licensure, osteopathy, veterinary and juvenile affairs.

Also terminated is the Chief Operating Officer of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and the Commissioner of the State Board of Health.

The bill was put into motion by Senator Nathan Dahm, a Republican from Broken Arrow.

The first-term senator says that the bill is still a “work in progress” and “open to major revisions.”

The bill was passed through the Senate General Government Committee 5–4 on Monday.

Senators that voted in the bill’s favor were republicans Dahm, Stephanie Bice, Corey Brooks, David Holt and Ralph Shortey.

Fallin’s spokesman, Alex Weintz, says that the Governor did not request the bill but does support it.